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Software · head to head

Castro vs Transistor.fm

Castro logo

Castro

Software

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Software

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Castro has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Transistor.fm monthly download caps vary by tier
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Transistor.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Transistor.fm differ
AttributeCastroTransistor.fm
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb, Mobile
Founded20132016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Castro

  • Podcast app
  • Inbox system
  • Triage view
  • Playback
  • Discovery
  • Podcast services
  • Apple services
  • Account security

Only in Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Automatic transcription
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Transistor.fm
  • Listeningnot Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm

  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Castro
  • Video podcast publishingnot Castro
  • AI transcriptionnot Castro
  • Dynamic ad insertionnot Castro
  • Private podcast networksnot Castro

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Castro

  • iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • No unified inbox for managing multiple podcast accounts
  • Recent ownership change (2024) may affect long-term development

Transistor.fm

  • Monthly download caps vary by tier
  • Private subscriber limits increase with higher-tier plans
  • Enterprise plan required for 250K+ downloads monthly

Pricing, plan by plan

Castro

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core podcast management
    • Inbox/queue/archive
    • CarPlay support
  • Castro Plus$24.99/year
    • Custom per-podcast settings
    • Trim Silence
    • Enhance Voices

Transistor.fm

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Transistor.fm review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Castro if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
  • You also want inbox system.
Castro review

Choose Transistor.fm if

  • You need unlimited episodes.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic transcription.
Transistor.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Transistor.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Transistor.fm at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Transistor.fm?
Castro has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castro and On request for Transistor.fm.
Does Castro or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Castro for free?
Yes. Castro has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Transistor.fm starts at On request.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Transistor.fm cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Both handle Ios support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castro: How much does Castro cost?

Castro 3 is free to download with optional Castro Plus subscription at $24.99/year (includes one-week free trial).

Source
Castro: What platforms does Castro support?

Castro is available on iPhone with an Apple Watch app and is expanding to iPad (launched August 4, 2025). There is no Android version.

Source
Castro: What are the key features of Castro Plus premium subscription?

Castro Plus adds custom per-podcast settings including Episode Limit, Trim Silence, Enhance Voices, Mono Mix, Skip Intros, and variable playback speed.

Source
Castro: How does Castro organize podcasts?

Castro uses an inbox/queue/archive split system where the inbox contains notifications of new episodes and the queue serves as an active playlist.

Source
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Related pages

More on Castro

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